• Military

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space
• Public Eye

News

Operations
Other Conflicts
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 20 Dec 2005 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Marine Corps Casualty

• Terrorist bomb detonates on bombers MNF-I 20 Dec 2005 -- One terrorist was killed and another severely injured when the improvised explosive device they were attempting to emplace detonated prematurely
• CENTAF releases airpower summary AFPN 20 Dec 2005 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.
• Iraqi Army Division Takes Step Toward Full Combat Readiness AFPS 20 Dec 2005 -- The staff of the 8th Iraqi Army Division was certified today in counterterrorism operations and tactics, which means the Iraqis can plan and conduct operations against enemy forces with limited support of coalition forces, military officials reported today.
• Soldiers testing cooling vests in Iraq Army News 20 Dec 2005 -- About 500 liquid-filled cooling vests are now being tested by Humvee crews in Iraq and Kuwait.

• Operation Enduring Freedom Rotation Adjustment Announced 19 Dec 2005 -- The Department of Defense announced today an adjustment to the deployment of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division toAfghanistan.
• Afghanistan: UN peacekeeping chief vows to stay the course for next five years UN News Centre 20 Dec 2005 -- The United Nations will stay the course over the next five years in helping Afghanistan through its full transition to peace and democracy after decades of war and civil conflict as tenaciously as it has since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, the head of the world body’s peacekeeping operations said today.
• U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan Slated to Drop Next Year AFPS 20 Dec 2005 -- The number of American troops serving in Afghanistan, currently about 19,000, is slated to decline by about 2,500 next year, a senior U.S. military officer said here Dec. 19.
• US to Reduce Afghanistan Force by 2,500 VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- The United States has decided to reduce its troop presence in Afghanistan from 19,000 to 16,500 in March of next year, largely because of the increased role NATO is taking in providing security in the country.
• AFGHANISTAN: Parliament convenes after three decades IRIN 20 Dec 2005 -- Members of Afghanistan's first parliament after more than three decades of conflict were sworn in on Monday, marking a major milestone towards the fledgling state's future peace and stability.
• Afghan Suicide Attack Wounds Three Italians in Herat VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- NATO peacekeepers in Afghanistan say three Italian troops have been slightly wounded in a suicide car-bombing attack in the western city of Herat.
• RFE/RL Afghanistan Report, Volume 4, Number 29 20 December 2005 -- NEW PARLIAMENT MUST COPE WITH DEEP DIVISIONS / LAWMAKERS' SLAYINGS POSE HARD QUESTIONS. / RIVALS COMPETE FOR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER POST. / NATO PREPARES TO MOVE INTO MOST RESTIVE PROVINCES. / DRUG AGENCY ANTICIPATES INCREASED OPIUM PRODUCTION

• Reserve pilots continue flying Pakistani ‘lifeline’ Army News 20 Dec 2005 -- Logging hundreds of flying hours to remote Pakistani villages over the past two months, Army Reserve Chinook pilots have delivered hundreds of tons of supplies ranging from baby formula to roofing materials.

Other Conflicts

• Despite missed deadline, Quartet peace plan still valid: UN envoy UN News Centre 20 Dec 2005 -- With only 10 days left before the expiration of the original deadline of the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet’s so-called Road Map peace plan for a final and settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a top United Nations official stressed today that the plan is still the agreed framework for reaching a lasting peace in the Middle East.
• CHAD-SUDAN: Army chases rebels into neighbouring Sudan IRIN 20 Dec 2005 -- The plot is thickening in an already conflict-ridden zone as Chad’s military made good on threats to pursue rebels into Sudanese territory following heavy fighting in an eastern border town over the weekend.
• Indonesia Begins Final Troop Withdrawal from Aceh VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- Indonesia's military has started the final phase of troop withdrawals from Aceh province, as part of a peace accord to end a 30-year-long separatist insurgency.
• Palestinian Gunmen Briefly Seize Bethlehem City Hall VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- A group of Palestinian gunmen have briefly seized Bethelehem city hall in the West Bank, apparently demanding financial assistance from the Palestinian Authority.
• New Ivory Coast PM Struggles to Name Government VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- The transitional prime minister for divided Ivory Coast, Charles Konan Banny, is struggling to form a new government.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 386th AEW wing slated as next generation of fuels mobility equipment AFPN 20 Dec 2005 -- The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing will become the test wing for the next generation of fuels mobility support equipment.

• State Department Briefing, December 20 Washington File 20 Dec 2005 -- Haiti, Germany, Iran, Macedonia/European Union, Bolivia, Iraq, South Korea
• White House Briefing, December 20 Washington File 20 Dec 2005 -- Cheney/comments on presidential powers, NSA surveillance program, Iran/president's comments, defense authorization/non-germane provision, Bolivia/new president, Iraq/elections

Defense Industry

News Reports

• Israel's Sharon Leaves Hospital after Minor Stroke VOA 20 Dec 2005 -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has left the hospital after suffering a mild stroke.